Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has expressed his belief that Lewis Hamilton may not have a long tenure at Ferrari following a lackluster debut season. Steiner has identified young talent Oliver Bearman as a potential successor for Hamilton, suggesting that Bearman could eventually take over before the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Speculation surrounding Hamilton’s future has intensified due to his underwhelming performance at Ferrari. Should Hamilton’s struggles persist into the upcoming season, Steiner envisions a possible premature departure for the seven-time world champion from the Italian team.
Bearman, who previously substituted for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix last season and later joined Ferrari’s Driving Academy in 2022, has impressed with his performance at Haas this year. Steiner, echoing sentiments from The Red Flags podcast, endorsed Bearman as a suitable replacement for Hamilton if the need arises.
Highlighting Bearman’s recent success, Steiner praised the young driver’s skill and consistency on the track, suggesting that he could secure a top-tier team seat by 2027 if not with Ferrari. Bearman’s recent string of strong finishes has propelled him closer to surpassing Isack Hadjar and Nico Hulkenberg in the Drivers’ Championship Standings.
Despite Hamilton’s struggles to secure a podium finish after 21 races in the 2025 season, his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc has managed seven podiums, trailing only behind Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen.
Ted Kravitz, a pitlane reporter for Sky Sports F1, shares Steiner’s sentiment, foreseeing Bearman’s inevitable ascension to Ferrari in the future. Hamilton, on the other hand, has hinted at staying with Ferrari for the long term, citing his existing contract and downplaying any immediate departure plans.
Formula 1 enthusiasts can catch all the live action with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering live coverage of every practice, qualifying session, and race, along with access to over 100 TV channels and complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.